Feasibility, Usability, and Customer Satisfaction of the Tele-COVID19 Project, Sicilian Model.

Background and Objectives: In March 2020, COVID-19 pandemic affected the world. All countries, to limit viral transmission, imposed quarantine. This emergency exerted personal, social, economic, and psychological impact on people. For health systems, was needed to create alternative care pathways. Telemedicine can be helpful to reduce isolation, provide health care services, and monitor virus infections. Italian regions, including Sicily, have activated telemedicine services for management of patients with COVID-19. Objective: The purpose of study is to describe a Sicilian telemedicine model for management of COVID-19 patients, showing results on feasibility, usability and quality of service and patient satisfaction. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive exploratory study on a telemedicine service for residents in Messina infected by COVID-19. It included monitoring of vital signs and specialist consultations (i.e., doctor, psychologists, social workers, and nutritionist biologists). Results: More than twenty percent (23.8%) of participants used tele-monitoring and tele-counselling services; 14.3% were only telemonitored. Participants judged positively telemedicine service (30% were quiet and 50% were very satisfied), as well as tool (70% were quiet and 10% were very satisfied). Telemonitoring had a low agreement (10% were slightly satisfied and 50% were neutral); tele-counselling had a high rate of satisfaction (40% quiet and 60% were very satisfied). Conclusions: This study showed that telemedicine model for Sicilian population affected by COVID-19 was feasible, easy to use and appreciated by patients. Our promising results allow us to assume that if in Sicily there was a return of the emergency, we would be ready to manage it This system can be the solution to remote management of these patients, to reduce isolation, provide health services, and monitor virus infections. The use of this technology should encourage future research to change the health care system and provides opportunities to ensure health and care for oneself and others.

Humanoid Robot Use in Cognitive Rehabilitation of Patients with Severe Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.

Severe acquired brain injury (SABI) is a major global public health problem and a source of disability. A major contributor to disability after SABI is limited access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation, despite evidence of sustained functional gains, improved quality of life, increased return to work, and reduced need for long-term care. Twelve patients with a diagnosis of SABI were enrolled and equally divided into two groups: experimental and control. Patients in both groups underwent intensive neurorehabilitation according to the severity of their disabilities (motor, psycho-cognitive, and sensory deficits). However, in the experimental group, the treatment was performed by using a humanoid robot. At baseline, the two groups differed significantly only in Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) scores. Results showed that the experimental treatment had a higher effect than the traditional one on quality of life and mood. In conclusion, this pilot study provides evidence of the possible effects of relational and cognitive stimulation in more severely brain-injured patients.

Care models for mental health in a population of patients affected by COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Emergency psychological interventions are needed in patients with COVID-19. During the pandemic, psychological counseling services have been provided using online platforms to address adverse psychological impacts and symptoms in patients and the general population. We investigated the effects of telepsychotherapy on emotional well-being and psychological distress in patients affected by COVID-19. METHODS: Forty-five Sicilian patients who had contracted COVID-19 joined "Telecovid Sicilia" from March to June 2020. Participants completed self-assessment questionnaires and psychological testing to measure levels of anxiety, presence of depressive symptoms, and altered circadian rhythm with consequent sleep disorders and psychological distress. Individual telepsychotherapy services were provided for 1 hour, twice a week, for 16 sessions in total. RESULTS: We enrolled 45 patients (42.2% women). We found significant changes between baseline and the end of follow-up in all outcome measures, especially depression (χ2 (1) = 30.1; effect size [ES] = 0.82), anxiety (χ2 (1) = 37.4; ES = 0.91), and paranoid ideation (χ2 (1) = 5.6; ES = 0.35). The proportion of participants with sleep disorders decreased to 84.1% after intervention (χ2 (1) = 58.6; ES = 1.14). CONCLUSION: A telepsychotherapeutic approach showed promising effects on psychological symptoms, with significantly reduced patient anxiety and depression.